The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-04-30
BrOadbTim'S New York Letter.

UlUuuul ILL D NUN lUlh uUllUl,
Special to the CARBON ADVOCATE.
We are drifting towards real estate
boom such as tlis country has not seen for
many years, and every week hundreds of
permits are granted in New York and
Brooklyn for buildings, the aggregate cost
of which is many millions. We are troubled
with surplus of population, and it is get
ting TO be serious question how to dispose
of them. As worked at present, the big
Brooklyn Bridge can dispose of passengers
at the rate Of fifteen thousand an hour, and
with additional terminal facilities they ex-
pect to run it up to forty Thousand an hour,
or for the three busy hours, from three to
six, 120,00 The rush in the morning and
evening is something fearful, and the mir
acle is how all these thousands cross with.
so few accidents. The same tremendous
pressure that is experienced ON the Bridge.
is felt on all the elevated roads, and it is
evident that something must be done, and
that right speedily, to help us to move the
people up town What is the cause of this
terrible pressure you ask; the solution is
very easy. 1t does not seem to be general
y understood that New York is not only
the financial center of the United States
but is one of the greatest manufacturing
cities in the world. Between two hundred
and two hundred and fifty thousand people
work down town in New York, and fully a
hundred thousand live so far away that
they have to patronize either the bridge.
the ferries, or the elevated roads. The i'm
mense appreciation of property on the low
er part of Manhattan Island is almost with
out precedent in the history of our country,
and there seems to be no evidence that we
have reached high tide. have spoken
several times about the splendors of our
new buildings, but every day brings some
thing new and startling. But as l said, the
momentous question is, what are we going
to do with the people? 1t is now felt these
elevated roads are at best only temporary,
and a most unsightly expedient
at that, and L am of the opinion that
public sentiment is rapidly chrystalizing
towards underground roads. A desperate
effort is now being made to seize Broadway
for an elevated road-but if ever Broadway
is given up for road It will be under
ground. 1t is singular how things come
around, A tunnel was started on Broad
way over twenty years ago. They finished
about three hundred feet of it and then the
scheme collapsed, but the piece of tunnel
remains there to-day, and should not be
at all surprised to see it started once more,
and carried to successful finish. We may
stand Jake Sharp's railway, but we will
never allow an elevated road on Broadway
The underground road seems to be the only
reasonable solution of how to move ouI
people.
The two cities OF Brooklyn and New
York were struck with an ague at little
political job put up by one John Martin
who halls from our goodly city. Mr. Mar
tin is machinist, and has an eye to bust
ness. So he proposes to erect new bureau
for the inspection of steam boilers. Hi.
bill proposes chief engineer at Albany
and three sub-inspectors in every Assem-
bly, district. This would proyido fat offices
for about four hundred henchmen, all to b,
appointed by the chief engineer. TIL,
powers accorded to these inspectors woul(
permit them to close up every factory ant
stop every engine in the State. No mar
could have little engine to run an electri,
light without employing licensed engineer
whose wages would be five times the cosl
of the light. New York has had the odium
of much villainous and oppressive legsla
tion, but no job either in the present or an,
past legislature will compare with Mr.
Martins bill. The secret appears to b,
about here: In the late strikes, as las
desperate stroke, Assembly 40 of the
Knights of Labor ordered out the engineer!
for the purpose of paralyzlng the industries
of the city, stopping every factory, ever,
elevator, shutting down every electric anC
gas light in the city and plunging it II
darkness and ruin. No such diabolica
vengeance was ever conceived in grea
city before in the history of the world
Fortunately for New York, the engineer
refused to obey the brutal order, and New
York was saved perhaps a carnival of rio
and bloolshed. II looks as though il wa
a covert attempt to control the engineer
and place them under the complete contro
of an autocrat at Albany so that there shal
be no miscarriage the next time a strike 4
ordered. Nothing quite so Infamous ha
been attempted in the present Legislature
and it is to be hoped that il will be strangle,
in its birth.
The death of Mr.. Beecher has had yer,
extraordinary effect in obliierating sectar
ian lines and in bringing about the era o
universal brotherhood. In a city flle,
J with the most eminent Congregational al
vines, his eulogist was an orthodox Episco
palian, and the rector of the most fashion
able congregation in the city. Several o
T the most important contributions to hi
monument have come from Hebrew Syna
, gogues. DIR. John Hall, the Episcopal al
vine spoken of above. Is now making
? tour of the Jewish congregations Of New
York and Brooklyn and is greeted will
, overlooking audiences everywhere. Thi
certainly looks like the light Of ths Ne'